Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/104648 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 8577
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Theory predicts that entrepreneurs have distinct attitudes towards risk and uncertainty, but empirical evidence is mixed. To better understand the unique behavioral characteristics of entrepreneurs and the causes of these mixed results, we perform a large 'lab-in-the-field' experiment comparing entrepreneurs to managers – a suitable comparison group – and employees (n = 2288). The results indicate that entrepreneurs perceive themselves as less risk averse than managers and employees, in line with common wisdom. However, when using experimental incentivized measures, the differences are subtler. Entrepreneurs are only found to be unique in their lower degree of loss aversion, and not in their risk or ambiguity aversion. This combination of results might be explained by our finding that perceived risk attitude is not only correlated to risk aversion but also to loss aversion. Overall, we therefore suggest using a broader definition of risk that captures this unique feature of entrepreneurs; their willingness to risk losses.
Subjects: 
entrepreneurs
managers
risk aversion
loss aversion
ambiguity aversion
lab-in-the-field experiment
JEL: 
L26
C93
D03
M13
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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